APPEAL COURT REJECTS STAY OF PROCEEDINGS IN OFFA ROBBERY CASE

The Court of Appeal, Ilorin Division, has rejected applications seeking to suspend proceedings in the fresh criminal case involving former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and two other defendants over the 2018 Offa bank robbery.

The ruling, delivered on November 3, 2026, clears the way for the Kwara State High Court to continue hearing the case, with proceedings scheduled to resume on Thursday, November 5.

The applications were filed by Yusuf Abdulwahab, a former Chief of Staff to Ahmed, and Alabi Olalekan, a former political aide to the former governor. Both appellants had asked the appellate court to halt the criminal proceedings pending the determination of their separate appeals.

Their counsel, J. A. Mumini, SAN, also requested additional time to file reply briefs after receiving the respondents' submissions. The court granted this request, allowing the appellants four days to submit their replies.

However, counsel representing the Kwara State Government, Chief R. O. Balogun, SAN, opposed the applications for a stay, arguing that the requests were legally unsustainable and could unnecessarily delay the criminal trial.

After considering the arguments, the appellate court, presided over by Justice Ridwan Maiwada Abdullahi, refused to suspend the proceedings, holding that there was no sufficient legal justification for stopping the trial.

The fresh case arose from a 20-count charge filed by the Kwara State Government against Saraki, Ahmed, Abdulwahab and Olalekan over the deadly robbery that occurred in Offa on April 5, 2018.

The incident involved coordinated attacks on commercial banks and a police station, resulting in the deaths of several people, including police officers.

The defendants face allegations including criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide. They have denied the allegations, with the case remaining subject to judicial determination.

The latest ruling does not determine the guilt or innocence of any defendant. It only allows the criminal proceedings to continue while the separate appeals are being pursued.

The decision represents another development in the prolonged legal battle surrounding the Offa robbery, which remains one of the most notorious criminal incidents in Kwara State's recent history.